Chapter 6: Shen Ning is a Disaster

Shen Shian’s expression changed, and he gritted his teeth: “What exactly does the Regent mean by this?”

“The Regent wants to use this opportunity to completely sever the relationship between the Duke’s residence and the Qin family,” Duke Shen’s face was gloomy, his tone deep and unpredictable, “The Qin family is aligned with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. If the Duke’s residence were to be related by marriage to the Qin family, it would inevitably become an important official before the Emperor. The Regent’s move directly eliminates the possibility of the Emperor drawing in the Duke’s residence and also cuts off the chance for the Duke’s residence to be loyal to the Emperor.”

Mrs. Shen immediately felt uneasy: “Then… what should we do?”

Are we just going to sit here and wait for our doom?

“Father, I think it would be better to have Yan marry Qin Yanshu,” Shen Shian pondered for a moment and proposed what he thought was a feasible suggestion, “This way, the Duke’s residence and the Qin family can still become in-laws.”

“Foolish,” the Duke looked at him coldly, “the marriage decree has been issued, how can you do as you please?”

Shen Yan pursed her lips, her expression dim.

“Are we just going to wait for our doom?” Shen Shian said coldly, his eyes dark and full of hatred, “Shen Ning’s purity is compromised, marrying the Regent is a death sentence sooner or later. Once she dies, the Regent can accuse us of deliberately concealing and deceiving him, won’t the Shen family still suffer? How will we save ourselves then?”

Mrs. Shen listened to the exchange between father and son, almost every word pointing to the death of the Duke’s residence, and her heart was filled with panic.

She was just puzzled as to why the Regent suddenly wanted to marry Shen Ning, not expecting there to be so much deep scheming involved.

Those nobles and masters who hold great power are indeed not to be underestimated. A seemingly casual decision can make their entire family as anxious as a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring.

“Or…” Shen Shian’s eyes shifted, the coldness in his eyes merciless, “if Shen Ning suddenly dies, can’t we have Yan take her place?”

Mrs. Shen was shocked: “Shian?”

“The Regent wants Shen Ning. Sudden death would be deceiving the monarch. Didn’t you hear what Eunuch Zhou said earlier?” Duke Shen was furious, “If anything happens to Shen Ning, the Regent will surely use it as an excuse to cause trouble. When that time comes, the Duke’s residence will not escape disaster!”

“Shen Ning is a disaster!” Shen Shian’s face was livid, his teeth clenched, “If it weren’t for this sudden change, how could such a calamity have befallen us?”

Duke Shen was displeased: “She’s your sister!”

“Sister?” Shen Shian sneered, “If it weren’t for the trouble she caused, would the Duke’s residence have become a laughingstock for the entire city? Last night, she tied me up for two hours. Did she ever treat me like her brother?”

When he said this, he completely forgot that before Shen Ning left the city to pray for their grandmother’s well-being, he had praised her for being a filial and sensible daughter, a caring good sister.

He also forgot that he had praised her more than once, saying that Shen Ning and Qin Yanshu were a perfect match made in heaven, and that having Shen Ning as the eldest daughter of the Shen family was their family’s blessing.

But because of one disaster, she became the enemy of the whole family and the “disaster” in his words.

“In any case, the decree has been issued. Don’t cause me any more trouble.” Duke Shen warned him, then turned to Mrs. Shen, “Go talk to Shen Ning. She’s a daughter of the Shen family, and even if she marries the Regent, she’ll still be a daughter of the Shen family.”

He didn’t have that many personal grudges with Shen Ning, his only concern now was the fate of the Duke’s residence.

Mrs. Shen nodded: “Should I comfort her well?”

“It would be better if you can calm her down.” Duke Shen’s voice deepened, “If not, don’t provoke her for the time being.”

Mrs. Shen nodded and turned to walk towards the Begonia Courtyard.

“Mother,” Shen Yan tried to go with her, “I’ll go see Elder Sister too—”

“Yan.” Duke Shen’s tone was firm, “Go back to your room and rest first.”

Shen Yan’s steps stopped instantly, her head lowered, concealing the unusual look in her eyes: “Yes, Father.”

In the middle of the night, the Duke’s residence underwent earth-shattering changes.

Shen Ning’s fate also changed dramatically.

For the time being, such a change was good for her. She didn’t have to risk her life to fight her way out, to carve out a path to survival in a sea of blood.

Regardless of the purpose of the Regent of Yong Kingdom in marrying her, going to such great lengths couldn’t possibly be just to kill her.

Shen Ning stood by the window, her eyebrows and eyes indifferent like frost.

“Ning.” Mrs. Shen walked in, her face now wearing a gentle expression, “Have you ever met the Regent before?”

If she had met him and the Regent had clearly expressed his affection for her, then this arranged marriage might still have a glimmer of hope. But if she had never met him, it was likely not a good thing.

Shen Ning looked indifferently out of the window, her stunningly beautiful features as cold as snow, exuding an aura that warned others not to approach, without saying a word.

Mrs. Shen was displeased but held back her temper: “This marriage is strange, and both your father and I are deeply uneasy. If you have any thoughts, can you share them with me?”

Shen Ning still didn’t speak, her eyebrows slightly lowered, as if lost in some unknown thoughts.

“Although the Emperor has betrothed you to the Regent, it doesn’t mean you’re no longer our daughter.” Mrs. Shen frowned, her tone gradually cooling down, “If the Regent treats you well, it’s good for you. If he doesn’t treat you well, we—”

“What about you?” Shen Ning turned her head and looked at her indifferently, “You didn’t even dare to offend Qin Yanshu, so how could you dare offend the Regent?”

Mrs. Shen’s face stiffened, and she was momentarily speechless.

She stared fixedly into Shen Ning’s eyes, feeling as if her daughter had suddenly become a different person, with a gaze cold as ice… no, not ice, like a death god.

How could Shen Ning have such an expression in her eyes?

She had been violated and lost her innocence. Shouldn’t she be heartbroken or even desperate? Being betrothed to the Regent, shouldn’t she be overjoyed?

Why did she have no emotions, and why had her eyes become so terrifying since last night?

“Is there something else?” Shen Ning’s voice was cold.

Mrs. Shen snapped back to her senses as if scalded by fire, then replied with a hint of irritation: “Ning, I am your mother. Why are you talking to me like this?”

Shen Ning looked at her expressionlessly.

A trace of embarrassment flashed through MRs. Shen’s eyes, feeling as if she, the mother, had been offended by her own daughter, and her anger was boiling inside.

But thinking of the decree from earlier, she ultimately felt some apprehension.

“Madam,” the servant Xing reported from outside, “Young Master Qin is here.”

Mrs. Shen frowned and remained silent for a moment: “Let him in.”

“Yes.”

With the marriage decree, Shen Ning and Qin Yanshu should keep their distance from now on. However, they had been engaged for many years and couldn’t be too heartless.

Mrs. Shen looked at Shen Ning with a complex gaze: “You and Yanshu have loved each other. Have a good talk with him. Even if… even if you can’t be husband and wife, don’t become enemies.”

Shen Ning acted as if she hadn’t heard.

Mrs. Shen’s face turned a shade of green, and she left, suppressing her anger.

“Ning!” Qin Yanshu burst in like a gust of wind, his face extremely ugly, “You’re going to marry the Regent?”

After a sleepless night and being kicked twice by Shen Ning, Qin Yanshu’s face was haggard, with a sickly paleness, looking listless.

And compared to the pain in his heart and the physical discomfort, the anxiety in his eyes was even more unconcealable. He obviously hadn’t expected Shen Ning to be betrothed to the Regent.

This fact was unacceptable to Qin Yanshu.

Shen Ning ignored him, silently gazing out of the window, imagining what kind of person the Regent was. It was said that his tactics were formidable, his methods cruel and ruthless, and he firmly controlled the political power of Yong Kingdom.

The entire court was afraid of him, and those aligned with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were eager to get rid of him…

“Ning, the Regent is not someone to be trifled with. He’s cruel and merciless, killing without hesitation. You can’t marry him!” Qin Yanshu’s face turned pale, his eyes pleading, “He must have ulterior motives. Maybe… maybe the person who assaulted you yesterday was him…”

“You think because I’m no longer pure, the Regent should also despise me.” Shen Ning’s voice was cold, “All men should despise me. If you’re willing to take me as a concubine, I should be grateful and kowtow to you.”

Qin Yanshu looked flustered: “I… I didn’t mean that…”

“The Regent has led troops in battle, experienced countless wars, and witnessed countless deaths.” Shen Ning turned her head slightly, ice forming in her eyes, “In the eyes of someone like him, honor is just an insignificant thing. This understanding is something you so-called noble sons will never comprehend.”

Whether it’s honor or dignity, none of it is as important as staying alive.